Experimenting with industrial architecture by Tous & Fargas

Abstract

The work of Spanish architects Enric Tous and Josep Maria Fargas was characterised by their experimental approach to the application of industrial building systems in Spain. Unlike some of their contemporaries, they conceived of construction as the integration of different systems that could be standardised and industrialised. Collaboration with industrial clients catalysed the experimentation of construction solutions and the creation of unique architectural works that projected an image of modernity in line with international standards. Their work became a testing ground for the export of construction models towards industrialisable solutions that were replicated in later projects. Their approach promoted the industrialisation and modernisation of Spanish architecture by introducing new construction systems and encouraging their adoption in subsequent buildings. This article examines some of these systems, illustrated by several case studies where they played a central role in the design.